Afghan, Coalition Forces Arrest Extremists During Search

WASHINGTON, June 17, 2013 - A combined Afghan and coalition security force
arrested two extremists during a search for a Taliban leader in the Sar-e Pul
district of Afghanistan's Sar-e Pul province yesterday, military officials
reported.

The Taliban leader oversees a group responsible for attacks against Afghan
and coalition forces, facilitates the movement of weapons throughout northern
Afghanistan and collects illegal taxes from civilians to fund extremist
activities.

In June 15 Afghanistan operations:

-- A combined force in Logar province's Muhammad Aghah district killed five
extremists and wounded another during a search for a senior Taliban leader who
plans, enables and executes attacks against Afghan and coalition forces. He also
facilitates the movement of improvised explosive device materials, weapons and
equipment and supplies extremists with suicide bombs.

-- In Paktia province's Sayyid Karam district, a combined force killed four
extremists and wounded another during a search for a senior Haqqani network
leader who commands extremist cells that attack Afghan and coalition forces. He
also facilitates the movement of fighters within Paktia and Khost provinces and
coordinates directly with senior Taliban leadership.

-- A combined force in Logar province's Muhammad Aghah district killed two
extremists during a search for a Haqqani network leader who oversees ambushes
and complex attacks against Afghan and coalition forces. He procures IED
components, builds IEDs and trains extremists in their use. He also plans
suicide IED attacks against Afghan government officials and facilitates the
distribution of mines, IEDs, and weapons to extremist cells.

-- Afghan local and uniformed police found and neutralized an IED in Logar
province's Baraki Barak district. The national security directorate received a
tip about a possible IED and passed the information to the district police
chief, who assembled a patrol that found and neutralized the IED after ensuring
the safety of nearby civilians.

-- A combined force in Paktia province's Sayyid Karam district killed an
extremist and wounded two others during a search for a Haqqani network leader
who oversees an IED network.

In June 14 operations:

-- Afghan local police found and destroyed six IEDs in Kandahar province's
Panjw'i district while patrolling around a newly established checkpoint.

-- Afghan special forces soldiers, advised by coalition forces, detained
three enemy fighters in Farah province's Bala Boluk district during an operation
designed to disrupt Taliban activity.